The Epistemology of Democracy: Authority, Anti-Elitism, and the Media

Populism is often characterized as a revolt against elite or technocratic governance. But even populists come to believe in authorities of their own choosing. The media—both traditional and alternative, institutional and social—play a key role, reflecting and/or shaping the beliefs of millions, on which democratic political decisions depend. This conversation will take up the role of elites in mediating democratic passions and restricting or enabling tyrannical majorities, as discussed in Tocqueville’s Democracy in America, with an eye to developments in contemporary democracy here in the US and around the world.

This event is hosted by the Social Sciences Collegiate Division, as part of its College Roundtable Series.